Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu approved the resumption of humanitarian aid into Gaza following a meeting with his war cabinet on Sunday evening.
The decision comes after more than two and a half months of a blockade, during which Israel halted all aid to Gaza beginning on March 2—violating a ceasefire agreement reached on January 19. Israel formally abandoned that ceasefire and resumed its military campaign in Gaza on March 17.
According to a statement released by the Prime Minister’s Office, the lifting of the blockade was made “at the recommendation of the IDF and due to the operational need to enable the expansion of intense fighting to defeat Hamas.”
In recent weeks, Israel has faced mounting international pressure to lift the blockade. Notably, editorials and commentary in Western media outlets—many of which had previously taken a pro-Israel stance—have increasingly criticized the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
U.S. President Donald Trump has also expressed concern over the situation, publicly calling for the resumption of humanitarian aid to the territory.
Israel has maintained that Hamas was stealing the aid, a claim repeated by U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. However, reports from the ground indicate that armed clans, historically opposed to Hamas rule, were responsible for the thefts. These groups reportedly stepped in after Israeli airstrikes early in the war killed many of Gaza’s civilian police officers.
According to Israeli outlet Ynet, Netanyahu informed his cabinet that aid deliveries would resume under U.S. pressure but did not call a formal vote on the matter—merely notifying them that the decision had been made.
Israel and the United States are seeking to take full control over the distribution of humanitarian aid in Gaza. Previously, this process had been managed by organizations such as the United Nations and World Central Kitchen. Once new distribution mechanisms and centers are established, aid flows are expected to be redirected through these traditional structures.
Last week, the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) reported that Israel would allow aid back into Gaza before these mechanisms were in place, though the Israeli government did not officially confirm this at the time.
As Israel intensifies its renewed military offensive—aimed at clearing the population of the northern part of Gaza and asserting full control over the territory—concerns have emerged that control over humanitarian aid may be used as leverage to pressure civilians into leaving.
On Friday, reports surfaced that the Trump administration was in talks with the Libyan government about relocating up to one million Palestinians to Libya. Simultaneously, the Israeli government has proposed offering financial incentives to encourage Gaza’s population to leave.